Steve Tikolo, Kenya’s batting mainstay at its peak, believes the rise of T20 cricket has been a “boon” for Associate nations, but insists the 50-over format remains crucial for the long-term development of players from emerging cricket countries.

“T20s have been a boon for Associate cricket,” said Tikolo, head coach of the Uganda national cricket team, during the side’s 15-day exposure tour in and around Mumbai. “There are more leagues, more opportunities and more exposure for players now. I would still want to see a lot of 50-over cricket because that is where a player grows,” he said.

“T20 is more about entertainment. In 50-overs, players develop skills, temperament and understanding of the game.”

Tikolo said Uganda’s immediate focus remains qualifying for two major ICC events later this year — the Challenge League B in Tanzania (August) and the T20 World Cup sub-regional qualifiers (October).

“The purpose of coming here was to get some games and gain experience,” Tikolo said after Uganda played practice matches across venues in Mumbai. “The wickets in Tanzania will be slow and spin-friendly, so playing at various places in Mumbai, Palghar, and Thane has been very good preparation for our boys.”

Uganda’s steady rise in world cricket — highlighted by its appearance in the 2024 T20 World Cup — reflects the growing competitiveness among Associate nations.

Tikolo also pointed out that the ICC pathway structure now offers significantly more opportunities to emerging nations compared to his playing days. Kenya, despite its famous 1996 World Cup upset over the West Indies and the semifinal run in 2003, hardly played enough international cricket consistently.

“When I was playing, Kenya would probably play only 20 ODIs in four years,” Tikolo recalled. “Now, if Uganda gets ODI status, they can play at least 36 games in a cycle. That helps development massively.”

Reflecting on Kenya’s decline, Tikolo admitted the country failed to build succession pathways after its golden generation featuring the Tikolos, Odumbes and Sujis. “We didn’t do enough development when that team was successful,” he said. “When senior players retired, there was nobody ready to replace them.”

While Kenya continues to grapple with administrative instability and court battles, Tikolo remains cautiously hopeful about a revival under a new administration. “It will take time — maybe five to 10 years — but hopefully things can turn around,” he said.